Saturday, October 13, 2012

How They Contribute to Weight Gain and Poor Health

There is no quick fix for fat loss, optimal health, and longevity.
But, the good news is that there is a way, and I can help you down that
path. I am not interested in attacking any particular product or
program by name. However, I do want to expose the truth about the $58
billion Diet Industry (and rising). Many of the programs and products
marketed today are basically gimmicks full of false promises, magic
potions, and misleading propaganda. Most of these counter-productive
systems result in yo-yo dieting and can be quite dangerous. My hope is
that the next time another quick-fix diet system (or product) surfaces,
you will know better than to believe the hype, or at least that you'll
think twice before you waste your time, money, health, and sanity. In
fact, no sensible diet program will ever compromise your physical or
mental health for the sake of looking good!

Commonly used formulas for fat-loss diets:

Liquid Diets

Most are low-calorie diets

Less than 1000 daily calories translates to starvation

Do you plan on living only on liquids for the rest of your life?

Low-Calorie Diets

Any diet of less than 1000 daily calories will slow your metabolism
and put you at a nutritional risk that could lead to health problems

Reduced energy levels

Decrease in water weight, not necessarily fat

High-protein, Low-carbohydrate, High-fat Diets

Too much protein can put undue stress on your kidneys and other internal organs which could lead to health problems

High amounts of calories from protein, if not used for their intended purpose, can convert to body fat

Fat burns in the flame of a carbohydrate-thus you need carbohydrates to help metabolize fat

Carbohydrates are needed for energy and exercise

Carbohydrates are necessary for brain function-without them you
will inhibit your ability to concentrate, calculate, and coordinate, and
your memory and moods will be affected

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets can put you into a state of
ketosis, which is not healthy and can lead to loss of lean body mass

Protein is necessary for every cell in the body so a lack of protein can cause deficiencies and health problems

Protein is needed for muscle growth, maintenance, and repair

Excess carbohydrates can convert to body fat

High carbohydrates can cause bloat and puffiness

It is impossible to avoid dietary fats-fat is found in many foods naturally

Some fat is necessary for health and vitality-too little fat can
cause a deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids

One Meal per Day Diet

Eating smaller meals throughout the day is important for utilizing
calories more efficiently and creating a constant energy level; both are
important in the overall fat-loss and better health equation

Eating one meal (or two) per day does not generate a steady blood glucose level

Eating one meal per day promotes over-eating especially if that
one meal is eaten at night-starving all day causes you to eat everything
in sight

Eating one meal per day promotes bad food choices because
excessive hunger will cause you to be less selective with your food
choices

One Type of Food Diet

Too much of one type of food causes nutritional imbalances and
deficiencies which can lead to health issues both short- and long-term

All-fruit diets result in water-weight loss, not fat loss

This type of diet can eventually lead to muscle loss, which is
directly linked to your metabolism. Since more lean-body mass means a
more active metabolic rate, you will lose fat more quickly by
maintaining and/or increasing your LBM.

Processed, Packaged, and Man-Made Food Diet

Nutritional value is reduced or eliminated when foods are altered from their natural state

When you cut calories, you lose weight. However, if you only eat
packaged, processed, and man-made foods, your weight-loss potential will
be limited by food quality, and your health may be compromised

Our goal is to lose fat, gain health, function and feel better,
and live longer. Consuming unnatural foods is detrimental to this goal.

Diet Supplements, Diet Pills, Potions, and Products

In
this age of quick fixes, many women try to become healthier and leaner
through massive intake of supplements and so-called "fat burners" (via
drinks, bars, and pills), but there is no magic pill, drink, or bar that
will ensure good health, weight loss, or a long life. Keep in mind; the
consumption of supplements in excess can cause health issues. The use
of diet pills may help you lose weight initially, but once you get off
them the weight will return and you will end up heavier than before.
Also, diet pills have short-term side effects and may lead to medical
problems. As far as magic potions and products like creams and
gadgets-they don't work!

One Part of the Equation Diet

Diet programs that tell you to JUST eat less, or eat better, or eat
low glycemic foods, or eat only raw foods, or eat six meals per day, or
just cut the sugar, or just exercise, etc. may be good ideas and very
helpful to your goals of fat loss and better health- but they don't give
you the complete dieting picture.

Providing only part of the diet equation is like presenting a
puzzle with some of the pieces missing-will you ever complete the entire
picture? NO!

This is the bottom line on restrictive and unbalanced dieting, aka quick-fix diets.

#1 - Poor Health

Since
most quick-fix diets restrict calories or do not allocate the proper
nutrient ratio (protein, carbohydrates, and fat), and even completely
eliminate important vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they put you at a
nutritional risk. This sets the stage for a number of health problems
during your diet, in the immediate future, and further down the line.

#2 - Dehydration

Some
quick-fix diets promote low-carbohydrate intake. However, most of the
weight lost in this manner consists only of glycogen and water. Since
the human body is over 60% water, this kind of diet may lead to
dehydration. Dehydration can cause fatigue, crankiness, stiff joints,
headaches, nausea, aches, electrolyte imbalances, and much more. Severe
dehydration can cause seizures, coma, or even death. The other problem
with water-weight loss is that women are deceived into believing that
they're losing fat. In reality, once carbohydrate intake resumes (even
the good carbs) and the water weight is restored, women mistakenly
believe they've regained all the "fat" they had lost on their diet
programs.

#3 - LBM Reduction

Reduction in muscle mass is a
common result of any type of low-calorie, low- carbohydrate, or
starvation program. In fact, as muscle mass is lost, metabolism slows. A
daily intake of less than 1000 calories is considered starvation, and
the human body will automatically try to salvage body fat just for
survival.

#4 - Decrease in Energy

When calories are
restricted, especially carbohydrates, the body's main source of energy
is limited. This energy is needed for the body and the brain to function
properly. Otherwise, you'll begin to feel tired, cranky, and mentally
slow. You also will not have the energy you need to be active and
exercise. Calories do so much for your body-they provide energy, life,
vitality, and so much more-why would you give that up?

#5 - Body Fat increases

Any type of restrictive or unbalanced diet is a recipe for failure.
The hype behind quick-fix diets is often unsubstantiated-they are based
on gimmicks and full of false promises.

Since most quick-fix diet programs offer ways to lose weight fast
with no regard for health and safety, the results will always be
questionable.

After trying a quick-fix diet program, any attempt to resume
normal, proper eating patterns often causes us to regain more weight
than we lost.

Regaining weight creates desperation, which often causes us to
seek another quick fix. This process eventually leads to chronic yo-yo
dieting, which is a vicious, unhealthy, frustrating, expensive, and
dangerous cycle.